Despite many prayers and old wives' tactics, we could not get the baby to come before our induction date. So, on the morning of October 12, we headed to Ogden Regional Hospital for our 9am appointment.
I checked in alone, since Robbie was dropping Daxson off to his super-generous sister and parents, who were so willing to take care of him for us, despite SO many other things going on. I was taken to my hospital room and given LOADS of paperwork (holy shnikeys....it's unreal!) to fill out while I was "prepped" for the induction. I had still hoped to be induced without the help of Pitocin (not a huge fan, myself), but the fetal monitor, while showing the consistent contractions I had been having for three weeks, failed to show that the contractions were doing very little to bring the baby quickly.
My original plan was to have my midwife come and break my water first, and see what my body did to react to it, and go from there. Unfortunately, my rockstar midwife (seriously....she's amazing) not only had me in "labor", but two other women at a neighboring hospital in labor on top of her regular daily workload at the clinic. Plus she was on call for basically the entire clinic. I said a silent prayer that she would make it to deliver my baby, and I was told she would be over "shortly".
At this point, I was at 3 cm dilated and still 80% effaced. My nurse, Renee, began to hook me up to the Pitocin (I consented in order to get things started while I sat there waiting and alone).
Robbie eventually showed up a bit later, and Machel (my midwife) came shortly afterward and broke my water. She said she would be back when I was at about 8 cm, and headed off to her other clients.
Before she left, I asked her (like normal) whether she had gotten any sleep the night before. Normally, she answered, "Nope. It's October! I delivered three babies last night." or something similar. However, this time, she cheerfully said, "Actually, I got about five hours of sleep last night, which is much more than normal!" Crazy lady....she's in high demand!!
After Machel left, I was still hooked up to the Pitocin, and we decided to stay on it until labor became more intense, so I rolled onto my side and started working on my hypnosis.
A while later, I opened my eyes and asked Robbie if we could call in Renee to turn off the Pit since labor was getting pretty strong and I wanted to see if it would continue without the IV. He looked at me, shocked, and said, "She came in and turned it off about half an hour ago!"
"You mean the Pitocin is off?"
"Yup."
"So...we're actually in 'labor' and my body is doing this on its own?"
"Yup."
"Cool!"
I was pretty excited about that since Dax's birth was so different, and every time they had turned off the Pitocin with him, labor stopped or stalled significantly. I was on the Pit with him until he was born. But with Addie, I had hope!
I settled back into hypnosis, and my parents and doula/sister (whom I'd highly recommend if anyone is interested) showed up shortly afterward.
By this point, I was about at a 5.5 or so, and it was early afternoon. I had serious doubts about how long it would take for the baby to be born since Dax's labor was so ridiculous, but continued to be hopeful that she would come, and fairly quickly. Contractions at this point were super-easy still, and I began to resign myself to the fact that it would be another 12 hour-or-so labor.
Renee came in around 2 or 2:30 and (mostly serious) said,"I did all the paperwork, so I'd like to be here for the delivery, and I get off at 5. See what you can do."
I had really wanted her to be there as well. She was an amazing nurse, and actually had been my nurse with Dax until her shift ended, and I ended up having another nurse whom I didn't really enjoy for the last few hours of Dax's labor and delivery. I hopes that it would happen, but I was quite doubtful.
I must have looked slightly nervous about the prospect of more Pitocin (thinking that was what Renee was implying), because Talya was quick to keep me calm, told me that I didn't have to go back on the IV, and reminded me of ways to get actual oxytocin going in my body so that Pitocin wasn't necessary. Gratefully, I took her advice.
I wanted to get in the tub. Water sounded heavenly. So, after about 15 minutes of fetal monitoring, I was able to climb in the tub and relax and work on getting that oxytocin going through my blood.
It was almost immediate when I got into the water, the contractions kicked into high gear. I was so grateful for all my practice and hypnosis training, because everything was still fine. I was in control of my body, and though I felt intense pressure, I felt very little discomfort.
Addie (like Dax had been) was positioned posterior at this point. This meant that labor is usually slower and more uncomfortable because the baby's head is "backward" and doesn't as smoothly pass through the birth canal, etc. I hadn't felt any back labor until this point, but now it came with a vengeance. When I got out of the tub, Renee checked my cervix (now at a 6), and I opted to labor on the birthing ball. Talya and Robbie took turns working on giving themselves carpal tunnel by applying counter-pressure to my back, while I attempted to visualize her turning, and stay in hypnosis.
Robbie thought then would be a good time to take a break and grab a Snickers. He later said that it was nearly the most costly Snickers of his lifetime.
While at the vending machine, he called his mom to check on Dax and give her an update. He told her I was at a 6, so it probably would be a few more hours until we had a baby. He hung up and slowly worked his way back to the room.
My dad called him while he was in the elevator to tell him to hurry back, but he didn't answer since he was only a minute or so away from the room.
While he was gone, Renee suggested we change positions to try to turn the baby. I got back onto the bed and laid in the way she told me. Instant relief. It was amazing how different it felt, and how much less back pressure I felt. I was deeply in hypnosis at this point, and was quite surprised when I felt an urge to push. I thought, that doesn't happen until the very end! I didn't know what to do with my new information, so I tried to stay relaxed while Renee checked me and announced I was at an 8. I couldn't believe I had gone from a 6 to an 8 so quickly.
I heard Renee call Machel and calmly tell her that I was at an 8 and that I was feeling the urge to push. Her voice seemed to become more serious when she ended the conversation with, "We need you over here right now."
It seemed like only a minute or two, and honestly, I think it was only a couple of contractions before Machel showed up. I couldn't believe she was here, since only about 30 minutes prior, I was steeling myself for a long evening of labor. She washed and gloved up and headed over to me.
I could feel that Addie was still posterior and her little head didn't seem to be in any position to come out, despite the huge impulses to push, so I was surprised when Machel had Talya, Robbie (he was back by this point), and Renee help to turn me onto my back for delivery of the baby girl. Once I was turned over, Machel said calmly, "Ok, friend, we're ready for you to push."
"I'm only at an 8!!" I thought in my head, but Machel sure seemed to think the baby was ready. I pushed with all my might, but felt sharp pain down below. Machel informed me that she was going to cut an episiotomy since she was fairly certain I would completely tear otherwise, and I said, "Fine. Go ahead!"
A couple of snips, another push or two, and little Adelyn flipped to the correct position and was born!
It is the most incredible feeling in the world to give birth to a little angel. I remember exclaiming, "That feels SO good! THIS is why I do natural!"
They placed the goopy baby on my chest and I completely fell in love. Her warm little naked body was the most amazing thing to me right then. I couldn't believe she was there, and that it was all over.
I looked at the clock and realized it was only 4:23, and turned to Renee and said, "Did I do ok on time!?" Really, I was so grateful to have been able to deliver before she had left. She was so wonderful, and such a great nurse. I was blessed to have her there.
Robbie had planned to receive her like he had with Dax, but the actual delivery had gone so quickly, there was no time for him to glove up and do it. However, he did cut the cord. When he held her for the first time, I am pretty sure he fell in love.
I mean, wouldn't you???
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